Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas is a doubt for the midweek trip to Ukraine to face Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League.
The brilliant Spaniard suffered a recurrence of his recent hamstring injury in Saturday’s tense 1-0 win over West Ham United at the Emirates, and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger admitted after the game that he may miss out on the European trek, though he did play the full game against the Hammers.
“Today Cesc played a little within himself,” Wenger was quoted as saying by goal.com. “He had a little tension in his hamstring. Let’s hope he doesn’t have a set-back.
“I hope (he plays against Shakhtar). At half-time we had a hesitation to take him off but he ended up getting better and better as the game wore on and finished it strongly.”
Alex Song scored in the 88th minute as Arsenal edged bottom-placed West Ham, and Wenger was relieved feeling the three points could be crucial as his side chase the title and a first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.
“I believe we have a good chance but we want to show consistency first,” he added. “We go step by step. We still have to step up a gear to completely achieve that.
“On the other hand there is more to come from this team. We had a good potential with the bench today and there are still some players to come back. If we can keep a good injury record we have a chance.
“It’s too early in the season. I have belief but we need to show now from game to game we can handle it. Every single game has a different aspect. Today we played against the bottom team and it was a real battle.
“It is a relief when we win with two minutes to go. It is always a relief.
“We needed to be patient, intelligent and not make a mistake against a West Ham team with strong spirit that was well organised. In the first half it was difficult to get in the flow of our passing but we kept going and kept the structure of our game right and kept trying to be intelligent.
“We kept going and we have evidence again of a great attitude and that we have matured. When it doesn’t work for us, I believe that we have remained calmer than before.”